Jason Kenney, the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, has formally awarded Canadian citizenship status to Santa Claus, the government announced Tuesday.

"The Government of Canada wishes Santa the very best in his Christmas Eve duties and wants to let him know that, as a Canadian citizen, he has the automatic right to re-enter Canada once his trip around the world is complete," Kenney said in an official statement.

Just three weeks ago, the Conservative government proposed legislation to expand the country's sovereignty over Arctic waters. International law at present states that no country has dominion over the North Pole, but the United States, Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have been pushing their claim to the area long believed to be the location of Santa's office and residence.